Welcome back to JB Warranties Monthly Round-Up! After a well-deserved Labor Day weekend, we’re sliding into September: the unofficial sweet spot for AC tune-ups and getting heating systems primed for the chill. But while temperatures are starting to dip, industry headlines are still running hot. Before things get too busy, we’ll catch you up to speed.
In our July Round-Up, we revealed the ACHR NEWS All-Star Awards winners, celebrated the new Workiz and JB Warranties integration, introduced the first-ever contractor network for rental properties, announced openings for the SupplyHouse Track to the Trades Scholarship, and got a head start on World Water Week. Now, let’s dive into August.
1. 400+ New Product Categories Subject to Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
On August 19, the U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed 407 product categories — including components for air conditioners and refrigerators — are now subject to a 50% tariff under Section 232 rules. The expansion applies to goods representing over $200 billion in imports last year and is expected to raise the overall effective tariff rate by 1 percentage point.
This move builds on President Trump’s June executive order, which doubled existing steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%, effective June 4, 2025. While the earlier increase largely targeted raw materials, the August expansion applies to hundreds of finished goods and components containing even trace amounts of steel or aluminum.
Each item is referenced by 10-digit customs codes, like “8424.10.0000” for fire extinguishers, making it tough to quickly spot what’s covered. However, it’s not difficult to see that the scope is wide sweeping. For contractors and business owners, that scope is what matters most.
Everything from truck trailers and auto parts to specialty hardware used in HVAC assemblies could be affected. Analysts warn that higher costs for sheet metal, ductwork, and mounting brackets are likely to ripple across the trades. The takeaway? With tariffs impacting the supply chain, contractors must prepare for increased material costs and tighter project margins.
2. Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Shapes 2025 Water Wellness Summit
If higher tariffs weren’t enough to keep contractors on edge, water safety is now making headlines, too. Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water systems, like cooling towers, and can spread widely through airborne water vapor. On August 4, the New York City Health Department confirmed a Legionnaires’ disease cluster in Central Harlem. By August 29, the outbreak had grown to 114 confirmed cases, with 90 hospitalizations and seven deaths.
With Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks across the country, the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease (APLD) has decided to put the issue front and center at the 2025 Water Wellness Summit. The agenda now features an expanded roster of experts, including Elizabeth Hannapel, MPH, Epidemiologist at the CDC (pending approval), and Bill McQuade, PE, CDP, President of ASHRAE.
“It is more critical than ever that we bring together stakeholders across our water systems to discuss how best to work together to safeguard our potable water, as our health and lives depend on it,” explains Tom Leach, 2025 Water Wellness Summit organizer. “Together, we will explore the challenges facing our community drinking water systems along with innovative solutions and best practices to combat the growing threats from waterborne pathogens.”
The summit will take place on October 2 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Free to attend, it will bring together leaders from public health, government, utilities, building systems, and advocacy groups for policy and prevention discussions. Special focus will be given to Legionella and other waterborne pathogens that pose risks “from source to tap.”
3. Anxiety Over AI Sends Thousands of Gen Z Workers Toward Skilled Trades
While leaders head to Washington to discuss water safety, more young people are turning toward the trades. Before the pandemic, the trade school market was considered “largely stagnant.” Now, fall enrollment at trade schools is expected to grow 6.6% annually, while community college programs focused on vocational training have surged nearly 20% since 2020 — far outpacing the 2.1% growth at four-year public institutions.
The driver? Anxiety around artificial intelligence (AI). In a recent survey, more than half of Gen Z workers said they were “seriously considering blue-collar or skilled trade careers,” citing stability in a tech-disrupted world. As one respondent put it, “We don’t have to worry about AI because AI can’t install an HVAC system.” For industries struggling with labor shortages, that sentiment could help ease the staffing crunch many contractors feel today.
And it’s not just Gen Z: Gen Alpha is already being introduced to the trades through new investments. The Home Depot Foundation recently committed $10 million to broaden access to training, including a $1 million partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The program will expose more than 1,000 children and teens to careers in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC to kickstart the next generation of skilled workers.
4. Ace Hardware Survey Reveals Link Between Reduced Rates of New Work
As Gen Z looks to build careers as contractors, Millennial homeowners are showing just how long they can put off calling one. Case in point? On August 12, Jobber released its quarterly Home Service Economic Report: Q2 2025, showing that new work scheduled declined 1.5% year-over-year for home service contractors like HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians.
The data points to continued homeowner hesitation around discretionary upgrades. Still, it’s not all bad news: average invoice size rose 6.8% and median revenue climbed 5.2% year-over-year, signaling that the jobs that do come through are higher-value and often urgent.
Ace Hardware’s new survey helps explain the slowdown. Among 1,000 U.S. millennial homeowners, 87% admit to at least one pending repair project, and 84% say they’ve delayed fixes. Electrical issues topped the list at 66%, followed closely by heating and cooling (62%) and plumbing (60%). In other words, the demand is there, but homeowners are dragging their feet.
Jobber suggests that providers with diagnostic services, fast response times, and maintenance memberships are best positioned to win over these hesitant homeowners. For contractors, that means pair value with speed, and you’ll turn delayed projects into dependable revenue.
5. ServiceTitan Previews Upcoming 2025 Pantheon Conference Content
While the above might be news to you, readers of our ultimate guide to plumbing trade shows and conferences know what’s coming next: ServiceTitan’s annual Pantheon conference! Hundreds of ServiceTitan team members and thousands of contractors will gather at the Anaheim Convention Center from September 17–19 to share networking and business growth insights.
The agenda includes training sessions and keynotes from industry leaders, including Marcus Lemonis, entrepreneur and host of CNBC’s The Profit. To build excitement, ServiceTitan released a preview blog teasing what attendees can expect. Here are a few incoming highlights from Pantheon 2025:
- Pre-Conference Trainings: Hands-on instruction for a variety of ServiceTitan features, offered before the main event.
- Partner Adoption Workshops: A closer look at ServiceTitan’s newest partnerships designed to help contractors grow.
- Pro Product Training: Practical demos showing how to use ServiceTitan’s expanding Pro tools to boost efficiency and profitability.
- Community Meet-Ups: Dedicated networking groups for women in the trades, international contractors, and specialties like roofing, septic, and garage doors.
- Hackathon: An interactive session where attendees can pitch product ideas and improvements directly to the ServiceTitan team.
- AI-Powered Features: A showcase of new tech, including smarter routing, updated fleet operations, a next-gen field mobile app, and enhanced reporting dashboards.
For those interested in attending, registration for Pantheon 2025 is still open.
Staying Ahead of Shifts in the Trades with JB Warranties
From tariffs reshaping supply costs to younger workers stepping into the field and homeowners holding back on new projects, the trades are in a moment of transition. JB Warranties is here to help you keep pace with every twist and turn. Check back next month for more insights, or visit the JB Warranties blog anytime to stay ready for whatever’s next.
Matt Cosby
Director of Marketing
